Body on Southwest Side is missing man's

Skeletal remains discovered near railroad tracks on Chicago's Southwest Side were identified Tuesday as those of a man who lived nearby, according to authorities.

An exam by the Cook County medical examiner's office Tuesday confirmed that the body was that of Arthur Mattson, 63, of the 3500 block of West 77th Place.

Family and friends suspected the remains, discovered Monday morning less than 100 yards from Mattson's home, were those of Mattson. They said he disappeared Aug. 9 while highly intoxicated. His wife, Carol, said he was an alcoholic who was often depressed and had been in rehab about five times.

"I knew it," she said, when informed of the identification, her voice breaking. "Now I've got to bury the poor guy."

She chided police for not finding her husband's body sooner.

"A block from home, and they said they did a `thorough investigation,'" she said. "I had a feeling he was by the tracks. They didn't look there."